Dinner and a Show at Loree's Cattleman's Restaurant in Green Forest.

Country music and country vittles go hand in hand, or at least they should.  So many of our steakhouses, catfish houses and country fried joints all across Arkansas and the Mid South pipe in the tunes of the greats of country music.  But few of them offer live performances, and even fewer offer that live entertainment for free.

Of them, Loree's Cattleman's Restaurant in Green Forest is a real gem.  The Cattleman's Restaurant has stood since 1958, as part of, I kid you not, a sale barn.  It is truly a local gem, with clientele that usually seems restricted to people who all know each other. Everyone really does seem to know everyone by name.

Quick Bite at The Filling Station in Eureka Springs.

I'm a sucker for a good breakfast.  You would be too, if you traveled like I did.  Heck, who needs travel to appreciate a fantastic meal of the day?

If you're looking for a reasonably priced place to grab a bite in the morning hours in Eureka Springs, you might go ahead and give The Filling Station a shot.

Moving and Mixifying.

Have a kid?  If yours is like mine, the hot weather has kept her inside and not doing much this summer.

But I got to see a whole lot of kids get moving this week at MacArthur Park, thanks to the Mixify Tour.  More than 200 teenagers from Little Rock and close by gathered to enjoy the events surrounding the tour.  The aim?  To help teenagers find balance in their lives, especially when it comes to diet and exercise.

Quick Bite: Burrito Asada at Taqueria Samantha #2.

There are a lot of great places to get burritos in Little Rock.  After all, the city is home not only to a thriving Mexican community but also to a generation of well-known Ark-Mex restaurants and new, trendy places offering south-of-the-border fare. But the largest, and perhaps best, burritos in the city come not from one of these brick-and-mortar establishments, but a food truck.  Or more specifically, two.

A Stop at an Alabama Roadside Stand.

We've been on the road a few days now, trying out barbecue joints and checking out places to visit in southern Alabama.  On our way out of Mobile, we spotted a bright orange roadside stand in Wilmer that smelled really fantastic, so we stopped.  Here's what we discovered.

Road Eats - Gambino Brothers in Mobile, AL... Like Family.

There are many rules you should follow when you're dining out.  Some are practical (don't go to a restaurant after closing time and expect to be served), some are sadly humorous (always wash your hands after eating peppers), but some are just ironclad things you should know.  Three of those cardinal rules:  follow your nose, choose new things, and don't argue with the chef.

All three of those things apply at Gambino Brothers on the western side of Mobile, Alabama, along with a fourth -- when you can, dine with friends.

Little Rock-Based PK Grills Are A Hot Item.

The iconic oblong grills are quickly becoming popular again, thanks to their reliability and construction. Learn how PK Grills became the go-to grill for many top steak cooks and ribmasters.

Change is Constant.

This morning was a milestone.  Hunter is six and a half years old, and she has adult teeth coming in. Unfortunately, she still had the baby teeth in those places, so they had to go.

Alliance Rubber in Hot Springs is the Western Hemisphere's Largest Maker of Rubber Bands.

It’s not a stretch to say that Alliance Rubber Company has the squeeze on rubber band manufacturing in America. The Hot Springs operation makes more of the pliant, springy bands than any other operation in the western hemisphere and possibly the world. Like its products, Alliance Rubber Company has managed to remain flexible and resilient over all these years.

The Arkansas Peach - Johnson County's Pride and Joy.

The Johnson County Peach Festival is just days away. It's a great time to head up to Clarksville and its surrounds and pick your fill.  Let's look at the history of the Arkansas peach and where to pick your own.

Monster Melts and Peach Shakes at Fat Dawgz BBQ and Something Sweet in Clarksville.

Johnson County is a prime destination this month with the Johnson County Peach Festival on the way While you're in town, grab a bite to eat at this comfortable joint on the downtown square. It also has great pie.

4 Trips You Can Pack Into What's Left of this Arkansas Summer.

Have you missed out on summer? Been avoiding the really hot weather, or the really wet weather before that? Well, wake up... there are just a few weeks of summer left before the kids go back to school.

Eat, Drink and Give a Hoot at Hoots BBQ in McGehee.

Almost any lunchtime or evening, you'll see a full parking lot at Hoots BBQ in McGehee.  But don't ever let that scare you off.  There's a place for you to sit and eat, and you'll have a good meal, too.

Them Poor Boys at John Gendusa Bakery.

New Orleans is a mystical culinary land that speaks its own language... in shrimp Creole, beignets, gumbo and Hurricanes. For the food lover, it is a destination like no other, a chance to speak that tongue and let the crumbs roll off. Some items, like Bananas Foster, Oysters Rockefeller, pralines, call to a higher and mightier position; others speak more to the common man, such as the Monday tradition of sitting down with a bowl of red beans and rice.

Mount Holly Plantation in Burned Ruins.

After the fire.

The first time I laid eyes on Mount Holly Plantation, it was damn hot. We'd spent the morning at Lakeport Plantation near Lake Village, and had explored the house and grounds there. An offhand remark on the tour about other plantations brought up

Mount Holly Plantation in 2010.

Mount Holly, which was built on a similar floorplan, not far away in Mississippi. Of course we went.

Road Eats: Desi Romano's Sports Grill in Chalmette, LA.

A couple of trips back, on a particular long Saturday morning before the first signing for my second book, Grav and I explored the land to the east of New Orleans proper. We spent a great deal of time looking around the area around the former Six Flags over New Orleans, then headed south and ended up across the bridge in Chalmette. Hungry, ready to take a break and in need of a clean restroom, we pulled over at the first place that smelled good. That place was Desi Romano's.

Road Eats: Soul Food at 2 Sisters N Da' East, New Orleans.

We stopped in at 2 Sisters N Da East -- also known as 2 Sisters Out East or just 2 Sisters -- thanks to my curiosity.  A couple of years ago, we were in New Orleans the first week of November, and we'd driven all over the area close to Six Flags New Orleans, looking at abandoned lots and roadways.  Having already had lunch, we weren't really searching out a restaurant for dining, but there was a place along US Highway 90, also known as Chef Menteur, that looked promising.  I bookmarked it in my mind for later.

Picking Blackberries.

Have you ever picked wild blackberries?  It's a significant piece of work, and there are pitfalls, but the reward is a great one -- fresh, wild blackberries to use in jelly, ice cream, or even just as fresh fruit to eat.

The 63 (Or So) Best Places For Ice Cream Treats in Arkansas.

It's summer.  It's hot.  There's nothing that beats the heat quite like a cold, refreshing ice cream cone, sundae, milkshake or banana split.

My Favorite Hot Dog Creations.

The hot dog is a very old creation, but here in Arkansas, we just adore these weiners in buns.  We like them all sorts of ways, whether topped with chili or pickle relish or slaw.  Let's take a look at some of the greatest dogs you'll find in The Natural State.

Wakarusa 2015 In Pictures.

Magic. For a long weekend the first week of June each year, magic happens on Mulberry Mountain. Thousands gather to listen to music acts that cross the spectrum while camped out under the stars.

But Wakarusa is more than that. It's a gathering of a tribe, of people from several generations and every walk of life, who peacefully relax and listen and interact with each other.

Please enjoy this selection of magic.

The Snak Shak in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Before we left for Little Rock, we had one more stop to make. It was hot, and though the simple solution would be to go jump in the ocean, we were looking for something that would leave our clothes dry for the return trip.

Massive Burgers at The Blue Rooster in Flora, Mississippi.

When a burger's so big that a fork is the only real tool you should consider in consuming it, that's a big burger. Watch our Instagrams unfold as Grav and I dig into a couple of the utterly massive cooked-to-order burgers at The Blue Rooster.

Magical Setting, Magic Springs.

Since before I was around, there's been this great theme park less than an hour from Little Rock where families can go and have a good time. I grew up with Magic Springs, and just like me, it's had its ups and downs. With the addition of the Crystal Falls waterpark area, the park has managed to keep relevant and fun for all sorts of folks.

The Second Largest Pizza In Arkansas Can Be Found at Magic Springs.

Do you know where the largest pizza in Arkansas can be found? Some believe it’s at Rod’s Pizza Cellar in Hot Springs, where the Godfather spans 17 inches. Damgoode Pie’s largest pizza is 18 inches. For most other Arkansas pizzerias, the top pie is 16 inches across (that includes Large Mouth Pizza in Greer’s Ferry, Iriana’s and Vino’s Brewpub in Little Rock and Tommy’s Famous A Pizzeria in Mountain View).

But there’s one pizza out there that’s a whopping 29 inches across.

A Day In New Orleans, in Instagrams.

There are many ways to tell a story.  This story is about a day spent in New Orleans.

A few years ago, when I traveled, some would marvel at the speed I might get a blog post up -- say, at the end of a busy day.  Today, we're in a very instant world.

Mountainburgers, Silver Saddles and Ice Cream at Dairy Dream in Mountainburg.

I've been playing tricks with your head.  I've been sending people to the Dairy Dream in Mountainburg for many a year now, for a certain mythological item called the Silver Saddle.  I can tell when someone's taken my advice, because they don't ask me what's in a Silver Saddle any more. They just nod and smile.

A Snickety-Snack at Pirate's Cove Cafe in Greenland.

At the end of a whirlwind trip through northwest Arkansas, Grav and I found ourselves a bit munchy. So we pulled in at a friendly looking cafe south of Fayetteville for a quick bite.

Taco Mama, Freshest Mexican In All Of Hot Springs.

You can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a Mexican restaurant in Arkansas… whether it’s authentic, Tex-Mex or Ark-Mex. Some are good, some are decent, some you wonder how and why they survive.

But no one ever asks why Taco Mama survives. They already know. It’s magnificent.

A First Look Inside Queen Wilhelmina State Park Lodge.

Over the years, a series of lodges have sat atop the tallest peak along the Arkansas-Oklahoma

What a view.

border. Today, I had a chance to tour the latest of these lodges, the brand new lodge at Queen Wilhelmina State Park. And it’s a knockout.

You Can Find Anything You Want at the Grant County Museum in Sheridan.

Dolls from the 19th and 20th century are collected in
this exhibit that includes a turn-of-the-century writing desk.

There are museums that focus on a single subject, and there are museums that focus on a single time period.  The Grant County Museum, located on the southwest side of Sheridan, focuses on an entire county and everything that's ever happened within it -- everything from

The courthouse exhibit includes the original clock from the
tower, as well as a desk and shelves from the
building, photographs and election paraphernalia.

prehistory to modern times, the Civil War to Operation Desert Shield, politics to domestic life and everything in-between.

The ten acre compound features one gallery after another, organized in a massive building that's seen several expansions; and within a village created from original buildings organized to give children and adults a like a working knowledge of everything Grant County.

The old general store shown here was once home
 to the Grant County Museum.

The Grant County Museum was originally located in an old general store near the heart of Sheridan. Grants and donated land allowed a new facility to be built, and as the collection has grown, so has the museum. The main building consists of several galleries that include everything from

A full-sized replica of a mule is decked with 19th century tack.

clothing from the early 19th century, to displays covering commercial traffic along the Saline River.  Like classic cars? A fine selection of automobiles dating back to the 1920s crowd one large room, with delivery trucks, fast cars and even

Vehicles from several decades are on display in a large room
that also displays signs and bottles from local eateries
and gas stations.

a fire engine. Enjoy taxidermy? There’s an entire hall that showcases critters from the area’s forests, rivers and fields. Dig military history? An entire series of galleries covers local participation from the Civil War to the Persian Gulf.

An entire exhibit is dedicated to ARKLA, the Arkansas-Louisiana Gas Company, which serviced most of the state. Within, you’ll see an original ARKLA truck, various gas-powered appliances over the ages and the desk of Witt Stephens.

A selection of different appliances powered by natural gas
on display in the ARKLA gas exhibit.

Flags overhead in the Jenkins Ferry room are from different
regiments of the Confederate Army.

A downtown Sheridan barber shop is partially preserved within the largest gallery. The entire mirrored wall from one side of the old building is accompanied by an array of different barber and dental chairs. Nearby, a “scoundrel’s gallery” documenting different infamous crimes that took place in

Items brought back from the second World War are on display
 in this hall.

Grant County, offers stories within wood and glass cases.

The northwest wing of the facility hosts a collection of Civil War memorabilia, including items showing what life was like back during the conflict. A special section commemorates the Battle of Jenkins

Vehicles and memorabilia from the Korean and Vietnam wars.

Ferry, the last significant battle of the Red River Campaign. Other galleries nearby contain items donated by Grant County servicemen and women who served in World Wars I and II, the Korean War, the Vietnam conflict, Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

These vehicles are part of the collection donated to the
museum by Richard G. Harrison.

Out back, you’ll find a large hangar packed with military vehicles. This is the Richard G. Harrison Military Vehicle Collection, which may be the largest privately-owned collection of U.S. military vehicles on display anywhere. Harrison, a Little Rock native, drove a Jeep and delivered secret

documents while serving during World War II in Hawaii. He donated the collection in 2002-2003. The selections include Big Bertha, a tank retriever and artillery vehicle; a Navy communications bunker; a Jeep similar to the one that Harrison drove while in Hawaii; and a monolithic camera that enlarged photos taken by planes to use for troop maneuvers and battle plans.

The Hilltown Café, once the Donaldson Café, still contains a
kitchen and different advertisements for cola and sweets.

There’s also the Heritage Square, a collection of buildings from the 19th and 20th centuries that include a blacksmithy and old schoolhouse; the 1935 Toler Chapel; a townhome built in 1904; the 1872 McCool House (a dogtrot cabin); the town’s former Masonic Chapel; the Edward F. McDonald House (which

Visitors can see what a post office looked like in the early part
of the 20th century inside the Edward F. McDonald House.

now houses displays for the town’s post office and doctor’s office) and the Hilltown Café, which was once Donaldson’s Café opened in 1927 on the outskirts of town. The collection also includes the old general store in which the original museum was once housed.

New to the property is a boardwalk that takes visitors out on an elevated walk through a forested section of the land.

This wide selection of preserved animals showcase the
fauna of Grant County.

Exploring the entire museum could take most of a day. School groups are encouraged. Visiting the museum is free for Grant County residents and a donation of $3 for non-residents ($1 for students).

Grant County Museum
521 Shackleford Road
Sheridan, AR 72150
(870) 942-4496
grantcountymuseumar.org
Open Tuesday-Saturday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Wakarusa Dispatch 2: When It's Hot, Try Bacon.

If Thursday was hot, Friday was hotter, forcing folks to gather in any version of shade they could manage.  For me, that meant spending a good portion of the evening in the shade of the OtterBox charging kiosk, sucking down samples of Frappuccino and eagerly awaiting the drop of the sun behind mountains to the west.

Wakarusa 2015 has already gone down as the hottest... at least, that's what I've been told.  With temperatures popping up into the 90s, ice and water are at a premium.  Batteries, too

We pick up this dispatch with Thursday evening, down at Satellite Stage, where the sun set earlier and electronic dance music is the theme of the night.

Satellite Stage is located in a natural amphitheater downhill from the rest of
the main camp.  Art makes this area somewhat ethereal, with inflatable lanterns,
stationary kites and dozens of individuals in hammocks.  Someone even put up
a swing this year.

The crowd started to gather Thursday night before Goldroom.

The crowd was... diverse.

I caught this shot of Josh Legg, aka Goldroom, during soundcheck.  I think he posed.

Once he got into his show, the sunglasses came off and he jammed right along with
the throng of dancers out front.  He's adorkable.

People of all ages seemed to really dig the set.  Goldroom's exposure on Sirius
XM Chill certainly hasn't hurt his carryover with more mature audiences.

Goldroom (Josh Legg) at Satellite Stage. #waka2015 #wakarusa

A video posted by Kat Robinson (@tiedyekat) on Jun 4, 2015 at 5:18pm PDT

The beauty of Satellite Stage is the way the wooded area along the hill funnels
the music upward.  There are no bad seats, or hammocks, in this house.

Goldroom's set is the first I have danced to for its entire length... in years.  It wore
me out.  My plans to hike out of the hollow were put on hold for me to rehydrate
and relax, eat a can of pears and drink some cold coffee.

That gave me the chance to hear Conspirator, though it took them quite a while
to get going.  Love the laptop cover here... apparently Boba Fett loves a slushie.

Once they got going, Conspirator's heavy drums and guitars fell onto laid down
tracks.  They had quite a following, including a crowd from Maine and from Boston.

Conspirator draws a crowd. #wakarusa #waka2015 #conspirator

A video posted by Kat Robinson (@tiedyekat) on Jun 4, 2015 at 7:47pm PDT

This crowd was entranced. And as the light left the sky, the lanterns lit up and
the crowd brought out every sort of light devices of their own.

Light show at Satellite Stage (video) #wakarusa #waka2015

A video posted by Kat Robinson (@tiedyekat) on Jun 5, 2015 at 4:06pm PDT

While I was downhill, Grav was up top at Main Stage for Umphrey's McGee.

Their jam lasted quite a while... I could hear it when I reached camp and was
able t enjoy it late into the night.

Grav caught the Lotus puppet from the Astral Gypsies in the crowd.  You'll
see it bobbing about in the video below for STS9, later.

Friday morning, we got up to head down to Chompdown.  Last year's event was on Friday,
and the crowd was pretty significant.

And thought the heady scent of frying bacon was in the air, the crowd this year
was smaller....

Probably due to the Friday slot.  There were still hundreds of hungry people
on-hand.  /The smart folks bring food to share - which, for us, meant pancake
mix, marshmallows, cookies and crackers.

The table never seems to go empty.

Dirtfoot added to its distinctive Louisiana sound with some Missouri-style
trombone playing from the Ben Miller Band.  I think Dirtfoot only retains about
two of its members and everyone else changes out.

Something this Wakarusa has taught me... the value of acute, immediate personal
hygiene.  Thank heavens for Wet-Naps.

In the heat of the afternoon, there were the Delta Saints.

And Wick-It The Instigator, cutting up at Outpost.

Wick-It may not be as adorkable as Goldroom, but he draws
some interesting fans.

The big show of the early evening was definitely Galactic with Macy Gray.  The
New Orleans based jazz rockers have paired up for a collaboration with the Ohio-
born R&B star. But she was nowhere to be seen the first two songs of
the set.

No matter.  These guys really know how to show off.

And then there was Macy.

Macy Gray with Gigantic at Main Stage #wakarusa #waka2015

A video posted by Kat Robinson (@tiedyekat) on Jun 6, 2015 at 9:18am PDT

It was 90 degrees in the shade and she rocked feathers.

Her passion ignited the crowd.

And what a crowd it was.  

Out on the Main Stage lawn, bubbles were being blown and aircrafted.

Dozens hung out under and on geodesic domes.

The appearance onstage of Chance the Rapper drew out some...
interesting sights.

They call him Mellow Yellow.

As the night waned on, Grav and I caught a spot with a haybale and stationed
ourselves with a big sheet to sit on to lay in the grass.  This is how I watched
Chance the Rapper.

And then... there was STS9.

STS9 at Wakarusa #waka2015 #Wakarusa2015 @wakarusa

A video posted by Grav Weldon (@lordgrav) on Jun 6, 2015 at 6:15am PDT

The sheer amount of light coming from the stage was astounding.  There was
an amazing amount coming from the audience, too.

Grav caught fire dancers on full display...

As STS9 plied the music of the night into fluent waves of smooth.

Saturday, we'll yoga, enjoy The Roots, reconnect with Nahko and Medicine for
the People and try try try to survive the heat.

If you'd like to see what's going on right now, follow The Sideblog or watch Grav on Instagram or Kat on Twitter.